Developing Early Math Skills with Number and Counting Activities

Becoming a parent was a humbling experience that opened my eyes to SO much I didn’t know.  Fourteen years in and I am still learning every day!  I’m sure those who studied child development were a step ahead, but I can’t imagine a parent who hasn’t learned more than a thing or two about life and growth from their kids.

I was a high school teacher for several years, yet I never thought about what my students had learned as little ones that enabled them to function as they did in my class.

Early language and reading development were easy to understand, but early math development blew my mind.  I had no idea that colors and shapes were precursors to multiplication and division!!

Discovering this when my kids were tiny helped me curate “play-based” activities to support their understanding of early number and math concepts. 

I remember making number cards shaped like Mickey Mouse to help them begin identifying numbers.  I bought little colored bears and cups from Lakeshore Learning to practice sorting. We counted snack items and objects when we were out and about.

SIDEBAR: Lakeshore Learning has AMAZING products if you’re looking for quality learning tools!  We purchased many gifts for our kids and teachers over the years!

Like the reading and vocabulary resources I created using the Hey Chicky Chick characters, I thought it would be fun to offer early math tools and activities for parents and teachers!  Here is a list of available resources and some suggestions for putting them to use!

HEY CHICKY CHICK MATH RESOURCES

• Number cards in the shape of the Chicks

• Number line to use for counting, addition, and subtraction

• More or Less, Big or Small, and Counting activities

USING THE ACTIVITIES

• Line up the numbered chicks in order.

• Put two cards down and ask the child to point to the number you call out.  Increase the number of cards as they advance.

• Play number hide and seek, hiding cards around the room or outside.

• Incorporate physical activities like hopping, skipping, and crawling to a certain number card.

• Count out objects like Cheerios, puffs, toy cars, on top of the number cards.

• Use fun pointers to count the number line (wand, spoon, stick, etc).

• Use fun markers, crayons, and pencils for the More or Less and Big and Small activities.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Have fun and enjoy getting creative!  If you can swing it, getting a laminating machine can be super helpful.  It keeps the cards and worksheets from getting beaten up, helping them last longer.

Also, don’t stress yourself out with learning activities.  My hope is you can sprinkle these into play time, the ultimate tool for child development 😉

You can access the Free Early Math activities HERE, along with other activities designed to go along with the book Hey Chicky Chick.

Happy Learning!!